and we will do a counterinsurgency strategy in the south, the cities in the south. but here is the thing. after 18 months -- in other words after the search is over, i'm going to start withdrawing some of the surge troops and can you tell me that within that time, within 18 months you can turn around the situation so much that the afghan army can take the lead in the fight in the majority of the districts. they all said, yes, sir. no question. in fact, petraeus knew that it would take much longer in this. these kinds of things go on for years. and he was asked by someone after words, why did you say yes? and he had two answers. he said, well, it really wasn't that kind of a meeting. he was looking for advice. he was looking for a take-it-or-leave-it. my view is when you're a general inter called upon to give military advice to the president, no matter what, whether you think is a game going on, he's not really asking for advice. is your responsibility to give correct military advice. the second one was a gamble appeared he thought, if i make enough progress he will